Simplytex

Alternatively, no plan survives contact with the enemy USCIS...

Seems like agents probably have to ask the question as a formality... I see a white lie as pretty harmless in this circumstance - no, this trip isn't going there... But I'm not talking about the trip-withing-a-trip... Visa-ception..

Recently, my wife and I met in Italy. She flew from Serbia -> Munich -> Milan, so technically she did passport control in Germany, rather than Italy. That said, the German border agent asked her directly if she was planning on traveling to Poland, and she just said no, her next flight was to Italy, and they stamped the passport and let her through. So, I would say it doesn't really matter where they enter/go during the trip... That said, I have always read the advice that the country you get a Schegen visa from should ideally be the country you spend the most time in, or if you are splitting time equally, then the country you will stay in first... My suggestion just to not rock the boat, would be try to have some proof that she has "planned to go" to Spain, since that's her visa. I don't think that entry point really matters, if you can kinda "prove" that you will "be in" Spain - maybe have some dummy hotel bookings, etc., in case she gets called out on it. Even better if the bookings are in your name with her as an extra guest (possible in Airbnb for example), so that if it ever "changes" then she's not really responsible for that... So, at least that is my plan - get my wife an Italian visa, have a couple placeholder bookings that I can cancel, and at least enter Italy and spend the first 2 nights there (also, this acts as a buffer in case either of us have missed connections, etc.)

I'm just being lazy and wondering if anyone here has the answer for this: For 2022, I'm going to file Married Filing Separately for ease (I know, won't get as much of a tax break, but the whole "non-resident alien filing special papers to qualify for resident status" is just... weird.) My wife hasn't yet received her visa, and hasn't been in the US/lived together with me. She also does not yet have an ITIN. Does anyone know, based on that alone whether she qualifies for contributions to a traditional IRA account? I might just call up Fidelity and see if they can advise.

The company that is officially designated to handle Italian visas has this service, I believe. You still have to take in all the required evidence (ie, read the requirements ahead of time.) https://italy-vms.ru/additional-service-2/ Also, I did make a post recently about what my wife provided for her Italian visa, which was issued without any problems in November.

Damn. I wonder, do you think it's worth trying a different country (Italy?)? I have no idea how much information sharing goes on between countries wrt Schegen visas ..

Did you get a denial?

So, I can't speak to how the application will go from Moscow, as my wife applied via a different company in Nizhny Novgorod... But Italian visa was issued fairly quickly - 10 business days (all visas are issued by the embassy, regardless of which company you use.) Also, I believe that either of the flooring companies has the service to help to complete or check your documents before submittal. If you are in Moscow, this is the company you must use for Italian visa: https://italy-vms.ru/it/?center=change If you are in other regions, then probably this company (which my wife used): https://ru.almaviva-visa.services/ Yes Serbia is good, my wife has flown twice into Serbia without any issues from Moscow, and Air Serbia is actually very comfortable/new. I'm not sure about the medical, but I believe it's only a couple days. Also, if I understand correctly, it's done digitally so you don't need to carry any documents with you (would be glad to get an update from you with what actually happens ) Also, I think you might have missed it the first time I posted, but if it's ok can you share what day you got documents approved at NVC?

My wife had to get Sputnik V for work, so I guess she's good on that count. My original worry had been that maybe KZ doctors would require Pfizer since I think you can get it there, but seems like that isn't the case.

Generally this is 'recommended' though I don't think its required... Just for reference, my wife in Dec (when going Belgrade->Munich->Milan, just for a vacation) was asked directly by German passport control if she plans to go to Poland... I'm a bit of a risk-averse person so I'd prefer to have a few days in the issuing country so you can say "no, we're going to Italy/Spain" with an honest face...

@Moscowmojo @CyberKnight13 @Runner19 I know yall might be headed to KZ for interviews, just wanted to share this email I got back, it might be helpful... I emailed the doctors office (IMC Almaty, at imcalmaty@gmail.com) in Almaty just curious about Covid19 vaccination requirements: Hello, Simplytex! Thank you for your email, to pass the medical examination in Almaty for citizens of the Russian Federation no need to provide CDC approved vaccines. If she has Sputnik, it's enough. If needs additional vaccines she can get in our clinic on the medical examination.

So, I've been watching several folks going through the process as well... My wife's interview must be around the corner (but scheduled yet she was DQ December 20, BTW what date was your MIL DQ?), but here's what I'm thinking: - the passport is supposed to take 2-4 days to process... But some people get it back in 1-2 days, while the very unlucky people sometimes it takes 2-3 weeks... Therefore, if you do book tickets for getting to the US before you gave the passport, be sure to get them flex/refundable - the first flight option (Poland->US) is acceptable (btw, Spain and Italy are common Schegen visas if you don't have one already) - technically, there is no requirement on how much time you should spend in the Schegen issuing county. - As @Wouter mentioned, your wife or MIL should call the doctors in Moscow to get a medical set up ASAP... As of 2weeks ago they seem to have quite a bit of availability. If your MIL is far from Moscow, then it might be easier to do the interview in Poland... Then again, it's also a question if your MIL get an 'approved' COVID19 vaccine? If yes, then doing the medical in Poland shouldn't be a problem, otherwise doing it in Moscow is better because they will grant a waiver for that requirement. My plan is to have the following bookings for my wife: 1) Russia->Serbia->Italy, we will probably stay in Italy 2-3 days to make sure delays etc don't impact onward travel 2) Italy -> Poland (somehow, tbd) again aiming to be in Warsaw a couple days before the interview to make sure there aren't any hiccups getting to Warsaw... 3) Poland->US probably will only book when visa is in hand, and use whatever route is cheap+convenient... 4) Italy->Serbia on a different dummy/refundable booking, for purposes of Schegen visa application. The tricky thing is, since some people have had issues with getting the visa back in a timely manner, I'm thinking of trying to get the Schegen visa for about 1 week before interview through to about 3 weeks after, so almost a month-long visa request. My wife and I just went to Italy for ~3 weeks and she didn't have any issues getting that visa for the first time, so hoping that 2nd time goes just as smoothly.

User S86 got his really recently, so I'm hoping that my wife get's her IL before the end of the month:

I'm a little surprised you aren't finding better prices flights? Just looking at Google Flights, seems like they can be had in the $500 range? I can understand that last year they might have been higher, and yeah with the looming changes in Russia (and current ones in KZ) it'll complicate it more. And yeah per the thread in the RUB forum, it's a little unclear on the medical stuff. Moscow mojo is probably going to be the first person who can report back. I think his wife's interview is coming up and they already did the medical (or will be soon?) as for my wife, she got DQ Dec 20th, so we are hoping to get an interview letter by the end of January for sometime in March. Still sticking with Warsaw for the time being, do the medical in Moscow, and will try to get the Schegen visa to Italy to get there (seemed 'easy enough' on our test run in December...)

Also, this is funny. I just checked the travel.state.gov page here and they don't show International SOS as an approved medical provider, even though the link that you posted does! Gotta love that the Consulate page also shows International SOS as a provider. Clear as mud...

I'm going to guess ATA stands for Almaty since thats the code they use on travel.state.gov as for the 01, not really sure. BTW, have you had the interview scheduled yet? You've been waiting a while, if I recall.

Well the thing is, in Russia there are no 'approved' COVID vaccinations, so the COVID vaccination part of the medical is just entered as a waiver... I'm not sure the same case for Almaty, since Pfizer is available there. Just thinking ahead - if my wife does get transferred there, then we're in a pickle cause she's only had Sputnik and Pfizer technically needs 8 weeks between vaccination courses so I don't know how all that will work... Alternatively... could go there for the interview, get one vaccination, then go again asap for the 2nd course and do the medical... I've heard its possible the embassy will put the visa into Administrative Processing hold until they receive medical, but then that also might mean having to return to the embassy yet again to give the passport, wait for visa to be issued, etc... ugh its a headache. Would be much easier if they just said "We'll accept Moscow medical exams" just like Poland does.

Does anyone know what the situation is for vaccination requirements if doing the medical in Almaty? Perhaps @Moscowmojo?

From what I've heard, most people don't have any trouble going via Spain or Italy, then to Poland, possibly with a stop in Germany if you wanted to take the train. But even one person in the Russian chat group was asked at the border going into Poland and showed the US embassy appointment and was let through... So it should be ok!

Interesting, thanks for sharing. That's the first time I've heard of this happening. My wife got DQ Dec 20th as well, but haven't seen anything yet. Btw, I wonder if, when you do get the interview scheduled, they say the medical can be done in Moscow, or if it has to be in Almaty (some other people going to KZ have said they won't accept transferred medical, unlike Warsaw.)

So, my wife and I just met up in Italy for 3 weeks over the New Year's, she says when she flew from Belgrade to Munich, upon entering the Schengen zone the Germans asked her very directly if she was planning on going to Poland.... She said no, since she wasn't, at least for that trip. Also, based on the official Polish statement, I wouldn't risk trying to enter Poland directly from a non-Schengen country (our plan at least in my head, is to enter Italy, go to Germany, then take the train from Berlin to Warsaw.) That said, my wife said in the Russian chat groups, some people have apparently entered Poland directly with a Schengen visa by showing the interview appointment letter as proof of humanitarian/"non-tourist" intent, but I'd rather save that as backup than the main plan.

That's great! You are still planning to do it in Warsaw? My wife was DQ Dec 20th so I'm really hoping that we get the interview scheduled before end of January.

If your wife is interviewing in Warsaw and gets the medical done in Moscow, then she doesn't need to get an "approved" vaccine because they aren't available in Russia. I don't know about elsewhere, though.

Just wondering, if you have been explicitly told that the medical must be done in Yerevan (I'm guessing you are talking about doing a medical in Armenia...)? My wife called the IOM office in Moscow last week and they said they have walk-in availability at that time...

Aww darn, I see. Haha no need to ask, я понимаю 😁